Side drawing winding device



Feb. 2, 1954 w. c. HANSE SIDE DRAWING WINDING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1948 INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. HANSE BY Patented Feb. 2, 1954 2,668,018 sIDE DRAWING WINDING DEVICE William Charles Hanse, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1948, Serial No. 26,662

Claims. (01. 242-18) '1 This invention relates to apparatus for unwinding a strand and particularly to apparatus for unwinding packages of filamentary material from which the strand is preferably removed in a direction tangential to the outer periphery of the package.

In manufacturing rayon yarn, cakes of the yarn as taken from the spinning machine are subjected to various treatments including washing and drying. During such processing, the cakes become thoroughly loosened and limp and the strands thereof often become curly, snarled, tangled or otherwise disarranged. These cakes are normally placed on a package-building or twisting machine for unwinding and reforming the strand into more compact and accurately formed packages within the requirements of weavers, knitters, dyers and the like. In these machines, the simplest and most common arrangement for withdrawing the strand from the cake is to support it on a non-rotatable holder and draw the strand or yarn through a guide placed over the center of the end or top of the cake. By this arrangement the strand is removed from the cake in a direction considerably at variance with the direction taken by the helical windings in whichth strand occurs on or within the cake.

irregularities in strand deposition while forming the cake, or the subsequent processing thereof, may cause the strand to be tufted or snarled within the cake. Although measurable draft is required for withdrawal of the strand laterally of the direction in which it occurs on the cake, the draft required is greatly intensified if for any reason there are interferences with the departure of the strand from the cake such as tangling, snarling and the like. Added to the tension produced by a tangle or snarl is the additional force required to overcome friction produced when the strand tightens against the lateral surface and edge of the cake. Very frequently, the strand breaks under such conditions and the winding or twisting machine is inoperative until the strand is again laced through the machine. Very often the forming of cakes or the processing thereof is such that a high percentage of the cakes cannot be unwound on conventional repackaging or twisting machinery and are subsequently rejected as waste.

As a principal object of the invention therefore, an improved apparatus is provided for unwinding strand packages by which the strand is subjected to less draft than applied by conventional un winding devices, and a high percentage of strand packages such as rayon cakes produced by the viscose method may be successfully unwound.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive, simple, trouble-free unwinding apparatus which may be readily installed on any machine on which it is desired to unwind strand packages. Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent in the following description of the invention and the drawing.

In the drawing illustrative of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of an unwinding device according to a preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the supporting means for the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modified supporting means;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another modification of a supporting means; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a winding machine showing supported thereon an unwinding device according to the invention and a brake means for the device.

Broadly the invention comprises an apparatus for rotatable and swingable support of a strand package and side draft means for withdrawing a strand therefrom. In order that a strand package may be quickly placed upon a package holder, the package holder is'made quickly removable from a winding or an unwinding machine.

In Fig. 1 a package holding device is shown suspended by a member comprising rod or tube 6 from a supporting bracket 8. A strand package I0, such as a rayon cake is shown in place on the package holder 5, sitting on the upper flat surface of an annular member or platform II. The inner surface of the strand material is supported by a cake cover l2 (inserted into the cake before placement thereof on the package support 5) reinforced by cuff I3 of a material such as cardboard. In the usual manufacturing operations, a cover I2 is placed over a rayon cake prior to the washing and drying thereof which precedes unwinding in order to protect the yarn and to keep it from becoming tangled and otherwise dis arranged. The cover I2, before placement on the cake, is normally a sleeve-like piece of cloth. It is inserted through the central opening of the cake and the ends of the cover are then spread over the ends of and around the sides of the cake. The ends of the cover I2 are then removed from the sides of the cake and folded over the annular ends of the cuff l3 and along its inner surface to form the arrangement shown in Fig. l.

The filamentary package [0 is maintained in an expanded and extended condition favorable to strand unwinding by any conventional apparatus adapted for frictionally engaging the inner periphery of a strand package and centering it on the holder, such as, spring members 14 which press against interior surface cake cover l2. The springs M are attached at the collar I5 slidably mounted on the shaft 6. The springs may alsoibeattached tlo-the plate lil, orifidesimd, the lower ends thereof may be retained in short radial slots (not shown) in the plate I l for limiting the movement of their lower extremities.

As an essential feature of the. invention. the. package holder is supported by a member thereof such as the rod 6 extending: comicallyabove the region occupied by the strand" package: I

and joining swivably and rotatablyw-ith a sta-- tionary portion of a winding machine ineorde s that the package holder and the package may have pendulous and rotative freedom while the strand is withdrawn in a direction tangential tor the: surface thereof... It is, desired: that. the package.- holder be; able to: yield in pendulous movement.- to; sudden: increases in tension.- imposed upon the. strand during; anunwinding; op:- eration. which mi ht; result, in breaking the attend as; by suddenjerking. As: a; preferred means; for obtaining. suchpendulous; and; rota.- tive freedom, the; bracket. 8 is. pnoyided. with. a horizontally extending. pcrtion t6? having; a slot I extending inwardly'froms BLSidBzOf the. portion t6; The: slot, k1 is sumciently wide so; that the rod 6 may extend through it and have; snmcient clearance for universal. pivoting within the. slot when the package; holder undergoes: swinging motions.

Support of the package holder on the portion ti: on bracket Sr is obtained through a cone-shaped washer 22 fitting loosely? about the; shaft. or, t me 6: and bearing the sides oi groove Hi, and a norm-slipccllar' 1a bearing on, the washer 22 The, collar: is secured to the shaft 6 by such means as a set screw 20. Since the washer: 2:2 overlaps upper; surfaces oi: the: support; portion in may readily shift, or tilt. along the. edgesof the groove: FF, and; the collar l8 may: tilt within the: washer 22 within the limits of movement permitted, the shaft 6 within the: large aperture 2k ot the washer.- 22, the holder 5 may swing treely any direction and rotate about the; axis of shafit; 6:. The assemlimly. comprising the washer M; the collar t8; and the shaft. 6 is prevented from. leaving the slot tt during withdrawing of the strand, by a portion. 26; oi the bracket.

Considerable. inertia is acquired by the strand package HI and the holder 5: therefor as a. consequence oi? the rotational velocity developed during a normal strand-withdrawing operation. There is considerable tendency." tor the holderpackage assembly to maintain its rotation after the stoppin of withdrawal means, suchas a winding device. In order that the rotation and the package support may quickly halted; to prevent tangling of the yarn a brake means, is provided comprising a brake: shoe. 28 which may be pressed against. a radially extending downwardly-facing irictional surface of the, plate U, and a brake-rod and. lever system comprising rod 29, pivot lever 33., and rod 34 extending to and connecting with the stopping lever 30; oi a conventional. winding: machine; shown in Fig. 5.

Movement of the lever 30 anti-clockwise; (as

viewed in Fig. 5.) to a, stepping position is transferred through thebrake rod 29 to the shoe Z8 and; causes it to rise and to make frictional contactwith the plate H. The brake is released when the lever 30 is moved back to operating position to again start the winding machine. Any lever system responsive to movement of the lever 36 whereby the system operates a braking element such brake shoe 28 may be used in lieu of the lever chain shown. For example a highly satisfactory alternative means (not shown) for transmitting such movement a Bowd'en cable.

ImFiga 5a; cake I0 is shown supported on a device according to the invention, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, said device being mounted on a. conventional cone winding machine as shown in 5; To give additional protection against shock. or; suddem tension which might be en (muttered in unwinding severely tangled cakes, the strand. 32- is: led over a fixed guide pulley 35 and. a dancer, roll 36 before passing through a conventional baffie type tension device 31. For example. when a winding machine such as illustrated in Fig. 5 is started, there is appreciable tensiondeyelo edin the strand 3.2; as. a. result f static. inertia storedin. the. holder 5 before, it reaches normal. unwinding speed. required. by the machine. Dancer roll 35 is provided with appreciable. range of. movement in a, direction that is lateral to the direction of lengthwise advance,- ment of the strand. and. serves. admirably and satisfactorily iorpreventing excessive. variations in.the. tension. on the: strand. leaving he. packa Ill. As shown. the holdcr. is open along. the periphery Qfz the. package; it, carried. by the. holder 5 to enable the strand. to. pass. to.- the: g id nulleg 35.. The dancer roll 36. may. be. weighted. and supported; by the. strand, as. shown in Eig, 5. or it may be. springably or. resiliently. linked with stationary.- support. means. not. shown. o. apply a force to. the. strand that. is lateral. with respect ta its. longitudinal. direction. of moreinvent.

As. an. alternative means for supportin the package holder according to the. inxentioxl... ballz-andssocketi type jpint is illustrated inlii's. 3 in which. an element. 40,. is. fixed on shaft. 5 by any suitablermeans. such. as. set'screw. M Elegment M- is. the. ball portion of the ioint. and, has an apsmxima e y mi pheroidal out r suriace which fits within a, complementary socketsurfac within the supporting member 1.6a. which may be a portion 0i such. a fittingv as. bracket l1 ShOWn in Fig. l. Portions of. thev apparatus shown. in Fig, 3', having, similar function and. constr cti nto those in Fig. 2. are given. the, same 1. .1.1.- merali except. that, the. letter. a. is. add d.

Stillv another: means for swingably and rotatively supporting theholder 5. is. shownin Fig. 4 wherem the shait. 6. of. the. holder 5. is fixed withinthe end. of a. universal, coupling such as tubularflexible-coupling 43 which. may be termed or" aresil-ient elastic material. such. as. a vulcanined rubber and. fabric. composition. The. shait. 6. s secured; within the end. of. the coupling. y m ans of. a. clamp 44.. The: upper end oi the. coupling is secured by a similar clamp. 45. about. the. end; of a. shaft- 41 nroiectms tbnct eh the roller thrust bearing 43. shait 4'! may be. loosely sup-. ported within the bearing; 4.8, but is pre-ierably prevented from contacting the walls of the apes, tore; through the lower race 4.9... Axial. movemen 0-: the shait florevented by a collar. fixed thereto by a means such as set-screw St. The whole assembly may be. supported on a. fixture similar to the bracket.- 8. of. Fig. l. s that nstant removal of the assembly facilitated by la eral movement oi the shait 41 through a. slot. 45 in the mann r which the package. supp rt, shait oi the other embodiments h em des ribed ar removed from respective supporting brackets. In the type of support shown in Fig. 4, a coupling such as the coupling 43 resiliently resists any swing of the package holder 5. The holder swings out its normal operating axis at times when the tension in the strand being withdrawn is. increased. Inertia and gravity forces which maintain the holder innormal axial alignment are aided by the tendency of a resilient coupling of the type shown in Fig. 4 to remain in, alignment when the holder is pulled to one side.

By the arrangements shown, strand packages such as rayon cakes which are so tangled or snarled as to be unsuitable for winding-on conventional unwinding equipment may be readily unwound on the apparatus herein described as a result of eliminating the excessive frictional effects developed as when yarn is withdrawn from a cake through a guide located axially beyond one end of the cake.

While preferred embodiments have been shown, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for unwinding an annular package; a strand drawing means; a control for the drawing means that is movable between a position for stopping said means and a position for operating said means; a stationary support; a package holder having an axis about which a strand package may be supported and the holder rotated comprising a package-supporting platform and a member extending lengthwise of the axis upwardly and centrally from the platform and adapted to extend and be inserted through the hollow portion of a package, an upper portion of the member being connected to the support in swivable, rotatable, and readily separable relationship to provide pendulous suspension of the holder and rotatability thereof about said axis, said holder being open with respect to the periphery of a package supported thereon and having a frictional surface disposed generally concentrically with the axis; frictional means connected with the control and supported adjacent the frictional surface for movements into and out of engagement with said frictional surface in response to movements of the control into and out of, respectively, said stopping position; and means in spaced lateral relationship with the holder for guiding the strand.

2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said frictional surface constituting a downwardly-facing surface of the platform.

3. In apparatus for unwinding an annular package; a package building spindle; a control for the spindle that is movable between a position for stopping a spindle and a position for operating the spindle; a stationary support; a package holder having an axis about which the strand package may be supported and the holder rotated comprising a package-supporting platform and a member extending lengthwise of the axis upwardly and centrally from the platform and adapted to extend and be inserted through the hollow portion of the package, an upper portion of the member being connected to the support in swivable, rotatable, and readily separable relationship to provide pendulous suspension of the holder and rotatability thereof about said axis, said holder being open within the region surrounding the periphery of a package supported thereon and having a frictional surface disposed generally concentrically with the axis; frictional means connected with the control and supported adjacent the frictional surface for movements into and out of engagement with said frictional surface in' response to movements of the control into andout of, respectively, said stopping position; means in spaced lateral relationship with the holder for guiding the strand therefrom; and resilient means for engaging the strand in a direction that is lateralwith respect to its longitudinal direction of movement in passing from said guiding means to the spindle.

4. In apparatus for unwinding an annular strand package; a'package -building spindle; a control for the spindle that is movable between a position for stopping the spindle and a position for operating the spindle comprising a package-supporting platform and a member extending lengthwise of the axis upwardly and centrally from the platform and adapted to extend through the hollow portion of the package; a stationary support; a package holder having an axis about which the strand package may be supported and the holder rotated, said holder being connected to the support in swivable and rotatable relationship therewith to provide suspension of the holder and rotation thereof about said axis, the holder being open about the periphery of a package supported thereon and having a frictional surface disposed concentrically with the axis, the support and the member being connected by overlapping portions of the support and the member interrelated for instant coupling and uncoupling; and frictional means connected with the control and supported adjacent the frictional surface for movements into and out of engagement with said frictional surface in response to movements of the control into or out of, respectively, said stopping position; the holder and the frictional means being independently supported within the apparatus whereby the holder may be instantly detached from the support without interference with the frictional means for reloading of a package thereonto.

5. In apparatus for unwinding an annular strand package; means for drawing the strand; a control for the drawing means that is movable between a position for stopping the means and a position for operating the means; a stationary support; a package holder having an axis about which a strand package may be supported and the holder rotated comprising a package-supporting platform and a member extending lengthwise of the axis upwardly and centrally from the platform and adapted to extend and be inserted through the hollow portion of the package, an upper portion of the member being connected to the support in swivable, rotatable, and readily separable relationship therewith to provide pendulous suspension of the holder and rotatability thereof about said axis, said holder being open within a region disposed radially exteriorly of a package supported thereon and having a lower radially extending downwardly-facing frictional surface disposed concentrically with the axis; a frictional member; means connected with the control for supporting the frictional member for reciprocation along an upwardly-extending path, such path being disposed to carry the member into and out of engagement with the frictional surface, said member being moved by the control into engagement with the frictional surface in response to movement of the control to the stop- 

